The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-11-27
ONE OF THE FAMILY.


when Lucy Keene came down the ros'
that beautiful July morning, and b
was Just about to throw an armful o
them over the fence as she came rognt
| the corner.
The sun-bo1net she were was exactly
like one he remembered to have seer
her mother wear twenty-five years ago
and he remembered, too. as he looked
at this one, and the fresh, rosy face
under it, how that one had made hi:
heart futter the first time he saw it
and how ne was SO bewitched by it, OIL
the face under it, that he had walked
home with Hester Mason, and had had
hard work to keep from proposing to
her.
He wondered now, and he had won
dered many times IN the twenty-five
years that had gone by since then, why
he never did propose to her. ....
He had meant to marry her some
time, and he was sure she liked him in
the old days; but something had come
between them, and she had married
cous Mary.
As he had looked at Testers daugh-
ter this summer morning, the old fire
stirred under the dust and ashes of
twenty-five years, and he felt a little
flame spring up in his heart.
"Good-morning, Lucy" he said,
leaning over the fence.
"Oh!" exclaimed Lucy, with a little
jump II didn't see you, and you came
near soaring me. Isn't it pleasant"
Eyes, it is pleasant, answered the
farmer, looking straight at her pretty
face. "HoW's your mother?"
Pretty well, replied Lucy. "Your
Strawberries are doing splendidly, aren't
they. We're so provoked about ours.
The hens got into the garden, and
mother says she don't think we will
have pailful of berries in all"
II want to knowl" exclaimed the
farmer. Now tell your mother that
she's welcome to all she wants out of my
patch. She can have 'em just as well as
not. There's going to be a sight more'n
We'll want, and I'd rather have 'em
used than wasted"
II will tell her." said Lucy; 81 know
she'll be delighted at the chance. You
berry preserves"
Eyes, 1 do" answered the farmer,
thinking of old times. ~ remember
she beat all the old houeskeepers at that.
They used to say th at she had knack
of making strawberry jam that nobody
else could get hold Of"
"She hasn't lost it yet" said Lucy.
She'll be pleased to have you come to
tea some time and try some she made
last year. She had unusually good
luck"
IN do it," he replied. "Let me see;
to-day's Wednesday. Tell her I III come
over on Saturday, if its agreeable; and
l reckon the berries1l be ripe, so can
pick pailful by that time. If they be
I'll bring some over"
THANK you" said Lucy. eff you
do we'll have shortcake. I'll tell her
to expect you to tea en- Saturday,
then"
"Yes," answered the farmer, "III be
round if nothing happens. Oh, heard
from Charley yesterday. He'll be home
in day or two to stay"
"ThatII be pleasant for you," said
Lucy. stopping to pick up daisy.
He could not see how rosy the face
under the bewitching sunbonnet grew
all at once. If he had it might have
set him to thinking.
Eyes, it will" said the farmer.
'Charley's good boy"
81 think I'll have to be going" said
Lucy. 1--WE shall expect you to tea
remember"
ST won't disappoint you" he replied.
Then Lucy went on and he went back
20 pulling weeds.
81 s'pose It's foolish to think of such
/ thing" he said to himself, but 1
lou't know as it's anybody's business
put ours. If see fit to marry Lucy
Ind she's willing, I'm going to dc it,"
From which you will see that the
armer old fancy for the mother had
suddenly been transferred to the
laughter.
Charley came home the next day.
81 s'pose I'll have to tell him what
I've been thinking about" thought the
armer. "I'd bout as soon take a
lorsewhipping, l declare. But there
lin't any use in dreading it and putting
t off. as know Of"
Accordingly, when they were sitting
N the porch after supper, the father
began.
Give been thinking of getting new
nC ouuOuHCpu.
Won't Aunt Sarah stay?" asked
Charley.
IL mean housekeeper of another
ind" he said, wiping his face vigor-
,usly.
Charley gave q whistle of surprise and
stared hard at his father.
Who is it to be, if may ask such o
Iuestion2" he said.
Down the road" said the farmer,
erk1ng his thumb over his shoulder in |
he direction of the Widow Keene's.
He couldn't muster up courage |
nough to say it was Lucy.
AHA that's the way the wind blows,
3 it2" laughed Charley, "I'm glad to
Iear it. You could not do better"
I'm glad to hear you say so," said
Or. Kimball. much relieved. 81 felt |
ure you'd like to have Lucy asa
member of the family"
81 haven't any objections, if she
lasn't."
80 that's over" said the farmer, as [
HARLEY strolled down the road in an
arly evening. 81 wonder he never
ook fancy to her. Is'Pose folks will
az am an old fool, but don't care"
While he sat there, Charley was tel
ng Lucy that his father had keener
yes than he had given him credit for,
1r ne Scanned tn know how mattarq